Driving home an RV purchased in another state.

[RichF54]

Hi all! I am new to RVing and have a question. I live in Connecticut and am looking to buy an RV from a private seller in Alabama. The seller is willing to notarize the bill of sale and the title when he transfers it to me. I can arrange for insurance on the rig before I drive it away. However it looks like Alabama does not issue a temporary or in-transit tag for a private sale. I called the Alabama DMV and they said to drive it home to Connecticut without tags. Does this sound right? I feel like I will be pulled over everywhere and ticketed in every state I travel through to get home. Does anyone have any advice or knowledge about this? Thanks in advance!

 

[Neal]

I would imagine it's like a car where you either bring your own tags or need to take the title to DMV and get tags. I doubt driving without tags is going to be an option.

 

[tims5842]

I wouldn't worry too much about it for the transport. You will have the title, just make sure it's signed and dated so if you do get pulled over the cops can see that you clearly are just getting it back home to register. You would probably get in more trouble having the wrong plate on the RV than no plate. As much as it might reduce your chance of getting stopped, it's a higher chance of getting a ticket.

If you are really worried about it, see if a big RV dealer in Alabama will do the paperwork for the sale. They would likely charge a fee, but then at least they can issue a temp tag. I'm from FL and buying a unit in Texas from private seller, but NIRVC is doing the paperwork. Seller said it was something like $750 for him, and as the buyer I'm paying $150 admin fee. But I'll leave with 60 day Texas temp tag. They also handle the money transfer, so I can wire the funds to them in advance, but they won't release to the seller until we take delivery.

 

[RichF54]

I wouldn't worry too much about it for the transport. You will have the title, just make sure it's signed and dated so if you do get pulled over the cops can see that you clearly are just getting it back home to register. You would probably get in more trouble having the wrong plate on the RV than no plate. As much as it might reduce your chance of getting stopped, it's a higher chance of getting a ticket.

If you are really worried about it, see if a big RV dealer in Alabama will do the paperwork for the sale. They would likely charge a fee, but then at least they can issue a temp tag. I'm from FL and buying a unit in Texas from private seller, but NIRVC is doing the paperwork. Seller said it was something like $750 for him, and as the buyer I'm paying $150 admin fee. But I'll leave with 60 day Texas temp tag. They also handle the money transfer, so I can wire the funds to them in advance, but they won't release to the seller until we take delivery.

Thanks so much! This information is very useful!

 

[Neemer]

I did that with my first motorhome. I drove it from PA to VA. I checked with VA DMV and they had a form I downloaded and populated with all of the appropriate info and taped to a drivers side window. No one gave me so much as a sniff on the way home.

 

[RichF54]

I did that with my first motorhome. I drove it from PA to VA. I checked with VA DMV and they had a form I downloaded and populated with all of the appropriate info and taped to a drivers side window. No one gave me so much as a sniff on the way home.

 

[RichF54]

Thanks!

 

[Chargerman]

I would ask the seller if you can use his plate to get home and then mail it back to him. I’ve done this previously.

 

[RichF54]

I have read that its worse to have the wrong plates than to have no plates if pulled over. I guess I would have to ask myself the question.... am I feeling lucky?

 

[Amigobaja]

I have towed, drove and pushed new and used Rvs all of the country for forty years and probably forgot to carry my dealer plate 85% of the time
without anyone ever asking. I didn't handle DMV but I was told a Calif. temp plate was only good in Calif. So you may find you might need a temp
for each state you're passing thru. We did thousands of out of state deliveries and it was always to the closest DMV office for either Or. or Nev.
Get insurance and just enjoy the trip highway patrols don't mess with Rvers unless theres a problem.